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US takes steps to block Iran UN nominee
(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The US on Tuesday made it clear that Iran's nomination for its ambassador to the UN is "extremely troubling," following the Senate's decision to ban Hamid Aboutalebi from entering the US to access the international body's New York headquarters
"The US government has informed the government of Iran that this potential selection is not viable," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. "We think that the bill that the Senate passed reinforces the point that we're making." Aboutalebi is alleged to have been involved in the 1979 hostage crisis, in which 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran for 444 days. However during his diplomatic career, he served as ambassador to Belgium, Italy, Australia, and the European Union
Although Aboutalebi's nomination and subsequent reaction from Washington could derail nuclear talks between Iran and the UN Permanent Five plus Germany (P5+1), Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed earlier on Tuesday that "direct negotiations" are ongoing
"We are approaching these talks seriously and with our eyes wide open," he said in his testimony in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "That's why as we negotiate, we continue to enforce sanctions on Iran, not affected by the Joint Plan of Action, not just incidentally over its nuclear activities, but also because of its support for terrorism, and we will press the case on human rights and its record wherever we can." Kerry added that the Obama administration "will continue to urge Iran to release our American citizens, Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini, and we will work to help find Robert Levinson. All three should be home with their families, and that is consistently raised by us with any Iranian official when we engage." The six to 12 month timeline remains, said Kerry, after which the talks should produce "an agreement that has the most extensive and comprehensive and accountable verification process that can be achieved in order to know what (Iran is) doing."
"The US government has informed the government of Iran that this potential selection is not viable," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. "We think that the bill that the Senate passed reinforces the point that we're making." Aboutalebi is alleged to have been involved in the 1979 hostage crisis, in which 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran for 444 days. However during his diplomatic career, he served as ambassador to Belgium, Italy, Australia, and the European Union
Although Aboutalebi's nomination and subsequent reaction from Washington could derail nuclear talks between Iran and the UN Permanent Five plus Germany (P5+1), Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed earlier on Tuesday that "direct negotiations" are ongoing
"We are approaching these talks seriously and with our eyes wide open," he said in his testimony in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "That's why as we negotiate, we continue to enforce sanctions on Iran, not affected by the Joint Plan of Action, not just incidentally over its nuclear activities, but also because of its support for terrorism, and we will press the case on human rights and its record wherever we can." Kerry added that the Obama administration "will continue to urge Iran to release our American citizens, Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini, and we will work to help find Robert Levinson. All three should be home with their families, and that is consistently raised by us with any Iranian official when we engage." The six to 12 month timeline remains, said Kerry, after which the talks should produce "an agreement that has the most extensive and comprehensive and accountable verification process that can be achieved in order to know what (Iran is) doing."
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